Lord of the Rings (board game)

The Lord of the Rings is a cooperative board game based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s high fantasy novel. Published in 2000, it was released by Kosmos in Germany, Wizards of the Coast in the U.S., and Parker Brothers in the U.K. The game was designed by Reiner Knizia, with artwork by John Howe. It received a Special Award for Best Use of Literature in a Game from the Deutscher Spiele Preis. A slightly revised version was later published by Fantasy Flight Games.

In the game, each player controls a hobbit, and the party works together to destroy the One Ring. Play moves through a series of scenarios based on the book’s adventures. Players turn tiles and play cards to advance, collecting and spending tokens to avoid moving closer to the Dark Lord Sauron. In tough situations, tokens can be spent to call for Gandalf’s help, or the One Ring can be used to speed progress at the cost of drawing nearer to Sauron. The main board is a track representing the journey, while specific locations appear on separate scenario boards. The game starts at Bag End, and each player draws a card that identifies their hobbit character, each with a special ability. Players are dealt cards for four activities: traveling, hiding, friendship, or fighting. One hobbit starts as the ring-bearer, but a new hobbit can take that role after each scenario. The journey moves between the main board and four other boards, visiting places like Rivendell, Lothlórien, Moria, Helm’s Deep, Shelob’s Lair, and Mordor, all while trying to stay away from Sauron. Players are eliminated if Sauron reaches or passes a hobbit on the corruption track. The game ends when the ring is destroyed in the final scenario at Mount Doom, or if the ring-bearer is eliminated, or if the fellowship reaches Mount Doom but all players are eliminated before the Ring is destroyed. Cooperation is essential, and players need strategy along with some luck. Knowledge of the novel’s plot is not required but can help in some situations.

Multiple expansions were published. The Friends & Foes expansion (2001) added scenario boards for Bree and Isengard, a deck of 30 foes (such as barrow-wights and wargs), and let players take the roles of Strider, Saruman, or the Mirkwood spiders. The Sauron expansion (2002) allowed one player to play as Sauron against the others.